The Geological Fluid Dynamics Group

Geological fluid dynamics is a new and emerging field that addresses dynamic surface processes, such as movement of water and wind, the dynamics of volcanic eruptions and of meteorite impacts. The goal of our studies is to understand how and why fluids move in these environments.

Recent Publications

Orescanin, M. M., Austin, J. M., Kieffer, S. W., Unsteady high-pressure flow experiments with applications to explosive volcanic eruptions, Journal Geophysical Research, Vol. 115, doi: 10.1029/2009 JB006985, 2010.

Huang, F., Chakraborty, P., Lundstrom, C. C., Holmden, C., Glessner, J. J. G., Kieffer, S. W., Lesher, C. E. Isotope fractionation in silicate melts by thermal diffusion. Nature, Vol. 464, no. 7287, pp. 396 - 400, March 2010.

Kieffer, S. W., Lu X., McFarquhar, G., Wohletz, K. H., A redetermination of the Ice/vapor ratio of Enceladus' plume: implications for sublimation and the lack of a liquid reservoir, Icarus, Vol. 203, pp. 238-241, 2009.

Chakraborty, P., Gioia, G., and Kieffer, S.W., Volcanic Mesocyclones, Nature, Vol. 458, no. 7237, pp. 457 - 500, March 2009.

Kieffer, S. W., Lu X., McFarquhar, G., Wohletz, K. H., Ice/vapor ratio of Enceladus' plume: implications for sublimation, Abstract 2261, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 2009.

Lu, X. and Kieffer, S., Thermodynamics and Mass Transport in Multicomponent, Multiphase H2O Systems of Planetary Interest, Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Vol. 37, pp. 449-477, 2009.

Kieffer, S.W., Barton, P., Chesworth, W., Palmer, A.R., Reitan, P., and Zen, E., Mega-scale processes: natural disasters and human behavior , in press, GSA Special paper 453 "Prevention of Random Mege-scale Events on Mars and Earth", ed. Mary Chapman, pp. 77-86, 2009.

Kieffer, S.W. and Jakosky, B.M., Enceladus: Oasis or Ice Ball?, Science, Vol. 320, no. 5882, pp. 1432 - 1433, doi:10.1126/science.1159702, June 2008.

Gioia, G., Chakraborty, P., Marshak, S., and Kieffer, S.W., Unified model of tectonics and heat transport in a frigid Enceladus, PNAS, Vol. 104, no. 34, pp. 13578 - 13581, doi:10.1073/pnas.0706018104, August 2007.